Message from Fr. Ciprian Sas
It is indeed with great joy that I salute you with this most awesome greeting: Christ is Risen! The documented facts (thanks to the Apostle Thomas and the Myrrh-bearers) that Christ: 1. did rise from the dead, 2. trampled down death by death, and 3. bestows life upon those in the tombs are the sources of our rejoicing and renewal. Having NO doubt in our hearts that IT IS all true, makes our happiness possible. Our joy and celebration during the Paschal Season clearly goes beyond our insignificant pleasures such as eating the foods we like/want or resuming some habits or practices we limited or discontinued during Great Lent. St. John Chrysostom’s concise and powerful Paschal Sermon (on the second page of the May-June Messenger) makes this evident; please take the time to read it. The historical event of Christ’s death (descent into Hades) and resurrection not only ‘embitters’ and shames hell/hades by His presence there, but also changes and renews everything and, if we are so blessed and humble enough to allow it, it will change us too. Our changing of the heart and of the mind will enable us to more clearly identify the age-old temptation that rejoicing and happiness is somehow directly connected to less, little, or no fasting and to different forms of our entertainments of choice. Yes, it is so very easy to think that our rest and relaxation (especially following Great Lent, a period of intense spiritual pursuits) is deserved, but is overdoing it justified? Better yet, we should ask ourselves whether our rest and relaxation is proportionate not only to our efforts at work and household chores, but also to our efforts for spiritual growth. Whatever insignificant entertainments we fashion for ourselves provide only temporary little joys and bursts of happiness here and there. The Great Feast of Pascha reminds us that Christ’s Resurrection from the dead IS and WILL ALWAYS remain the source of TRUE happiness and the reason for our eternal rejoicing. Our instinct to fear the unknown is eliminated by Him who is victorious over death (the biggest unknown) - demons fall, angels rejoice, life reigns because TRULY Christ IS Risen! In Christ, Fr. Ciprian Sas Parish Priest |
